Chapter Nine – Affected By Her

Felixe's POV

I gazed at her limp body in my arms. She was trembling with fever and it somehow clutched at my heart, making me feel guilty for hurting her. Did she fall sick because of me? Her words echoed in my head every minute, every second, robbing me of my peace. 

You wouldn’t! You’re my mate, Felixe!

The way she said my name made my c*ck twitch with arousal every fucking time! And the way she innocently accepted me as her mate made my frozen heart respond to her. Despite the way I tortured her, any other female would have cowered at the sight of me. But not my naïve, delicate mate! She didn’t cower but fought me tooth and nail. Only she didn’t know how much it turned me on. 

She didn’t know that I couldn’t harm her, or torch her village even if I wanted. For the first time in my life, I gave out a useless threat I would never execute. I didn’t know it would have such an effect on her. I didn’t know she would shed so many tears because of it. 

Her tears tortured me, and made me restless until I just went into her room to see her. The threat was just to stop her from wandering around the house! I didn’t want to terrorize her to surrender. I felt guilty when she didn’t emerge even for dinner. Now it was almost midnight and I couldn’t stay aloof anymore.

I was a hermit used to being on my own for as long as I could remember! Hermione’s presence in my home disturbed me, especially tonight. The red bikini drove Freyr and me wild with desire! Why was she hellbent on breaking me? I didn’t want to lose my restraints and claim Zephyrus’s sister out of all the wolves in the world!

Yet my heart thawed at the sight of her burning with fever locked up in her room. 

No, I didn’t feel a thing for her other than hatred. I just brought her over to my bedroom so I could look after her!

‘Well, I’m crazy about her!’ admitted Freyr. ‘You can just watch me claim, Hye!’ I groaned at my wild wolf, knowing I couldn’t restrain him much longer. I had to decide fast what I wanted to do with the enemy! I lay her down on my bed gently, but she clung to my arm as a tremor rocked her body. 

“I’ll stay in my room all my life. Please don’t kill my brother. He hasn’t torched your home.” I frowned at her incoherent words. She was delirious! Did she know I was with her? Could she sense my presence? I stood dazed, unable to utter a word to comfort her. I didn’t know what to say. 

Of course, I wouldn’t torch her village. Not because I believed her brother was innocent. It was only because she was innocent! It was because I couldn’t break her heart, which accepted me as her mate.

Of course, I could feel the mate bond between was, but it was a forbidden relationship. I was a true Whiteridge wolf while she was a Lucerian. We were sworn enemies. I couldn’t go against my pack, my land! 

‘Which pack? Zephyrus has wiped out our entire pack! He killed our pack the way we killed his. So, it doesn’t matter who we claim. There’s no one to question our decision!’ reminded Freyr, ready for war with me on this.

He was a no-nonsense wolf who didn’t mind constraints, who snatched away whatever he wanted. This time, we both wanted Hermione! That was the reason I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do with her. I couldn’t kill her or punish her! Of course, I couldn’t let her go! 

“Felixe, kill me, but let my brother go.” Her delirious words pierced my heart, and I slowly extricated my arm from her hold. Her feverish touch burned me and I knew she needed food and medicine, but how could I wake her up? She would definitely panic knowing where I had brought her. 

‘This is her rightful place. She belongs here. Wake her up and tell her that!’ prodded Freyr. It was easy for him to order me around. I stood at the foot of the bed in a state of confusion, having never faced such a situation in my life!

I was used to working even with a fever. The more you think about it, the more it gripped you. It always healed on its own! But I wasn’t sure about females! I never saw my mom since she died after giving birth to me! Her name was Thea, and she was my dad’s fated mate! 

I hardly knew much about her. My dad refused to talk about her! 

More so after he met my stepmom, Ebony Lafferty, a native of White Ridge Village. I could never bond with her. She despised me, trying everything she could to separate me from my family. Most of the time, it worked. I was the infamous feral wolf who couldn’t stay with the others. Therefore, I learned to live alone, not having to talk to anyone for months. After becoming the Gamma, things improved a little, yet I had difficulty communicating with others. They all feared my aura! 

Hermione stirred, and I looked at her with dread. I didn’t know how she would react to me. What if her condition deteriorated? 

‘Don’t even think of leaving her here. Calm her, kiss her, feed her, soothe her.’ Started, my wise wolf. His advice got to my nerves. If he was so experienced, he could do what was needed. 

“I’ll shift and let you handle her!’ 

‘No way! I can’t do half the things you can. So deal with it yourself!’ Thankfully, he kept mum afterward while I waited for Hermione to wake up. 

Despite being unwell, she looked so beautiful, so angelic, I felt guilty for torturing her so much! Would the goddess punish me? The tears had dried on her cheeks and her lips quivered whenever she stirred. I couldn’t look away from her. Sitting beside her, I tucked away a stray curl that fell across her radiant face. 

She opened her eyes and gazed at me for a split second. My heart skipped a beat, expecting her to react. She didn’t, closing her eyes again. A soft snore filled the room, and I released the breath I was holding. Maybe she could sleep it off. It wouldn’t be wise to disturb her. 

My phone buzzed with an incoming call from Mike, and I stealthily left the bedroom. Once outside, I accepted the call. 

“Why are you calling me so late, Mike?” Something was wrong else Mike would never disturb me so late in the night. 

“Sir, Mr. Gruben has resigned. With the General Body meeting scheduled next week, what will we do? He hasn’t signed the audit reports yet!” I massaged my temples with frustration. I knew I had to leave for Yellowknife immediately, but with Hermione sick, I couldn’t take her along. Leaving her here alone wasn’t possible.

“I’ll come over tomorrow. We will discuss then.” I disconnected the call and paced the floor of the living room. Maybe I should summon Stella back to look after Hermione. I could arrange for guards to ensure she doesn’t escape until my return. Once she was well, I would return to get her. 

I called Stella, and she agreed to come over in the morning. After informing my pilot, I went into my bedroom and packed up a few essentials. However, my glance fell upon Hermione’s sleeping form and I forgot all my woes. The urge to lie down beside her was so great, I couldn’t stop myself. 

I wasn’t a good wolf. I was tainted, bad, and feral! No female wanted me, except Hermione! I lay down on the bed beside her. Would it be wrong if I gave in to the temptation just for a few minutes? 

‘As if it’s the first time you’re sleeping with her!’ Freyr didn’t sound happy at the prospect of leaving our mate, but to me, work was my priority. I knew it wasn’t the first time, but this time I had sneaked in with her without her knowledge when she was unwell. That wasn’t how I functioned. 

‘I’ll just rest for an hour!’ I turned towards her, gazing at her sleeping form longingly. If only I could get close to her! I longed to feel her in my arms before I left! 

‘Don’t tell me you’ll miss her!’ I groaned at Freyr’s taunt. 

‘No, I won’t.’ Why would I miss her when I didn’t acknowledge her as my mate? 

‘I will! Mostly I’ll miss her kiss!’ He rubbed it in, pushing me to react. I did! I couldn’t stop myself. Scooting toward her, I snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to my body. A deep sigh of pleasure escaped my mouth as I spooned her sleeping form. 

Soon I fell into a deep slumber, totally forgetting about my plans to leave!